Texas Tech mascot retired because of sore

Texas Tech Masked Rider Ashley Wenzel takes Midnight Matador on a walk around the stadium on Saturday in Lubbock. Midnight Matador was held out of the run onto the field for medical reasons. The horse will not make a run onto the field again this season.

The Masked Rider Advisory Committee announced its retirement today in a Texas Tech news release.

Tech’s mascot has a leg sore. Because it’s in the best interest of the 13-year-old horse to avoid high-intensity exercise he won’t make the opening charge at the season’s remaining home games, said Sam Jackson, associate chair and associate professor of Animal Science, on Tuesday.

Jackson works with Midnight Matador.

“Nothing’s changed on (Midnight Matador), and we don’t anticipate anything will,” Jackson said. “Basically, we’re in the mind set that we don’t think he’s going to get to the point where it’s safe for him to (be used) that hard. That’s why we’re looking at other options, because the time frame (in which) we think it’s going to be 100 percent predictable as to how he would respond if we put that much pressure on him, the season’s over.

The Masked Rider Advisory Committee currently is reviewing and selecting both interim and permanent horse options for the program, according to the press release.

Last Saturday, Raider Red led the team on the field, perched on a motorcycle while Midnight Matador and Masked Rider Ashley Wenzel stayed on the sidelines during the game against West Virginia.

Jackson stresses the ailment is not a injury, but is normal wear and tear. The sore was discovered during a routine diagnostic test. Midnight Matador is not in pain, is able to walk and is being ridden.

“He may be just fine in three months,” he said. “He may be fine in six months. We don’t know, but we need to take the approach in the meantime, we need to find something that we can use to fulfill the role of mascot while he’s healing.”

Jackson said the horse, which has served as mascot since 2002, is in fine condition for other activities and will continue to make other scheduled appearances.

Because of other stadiums’ rules regarding live mascots, the only away game the mascot is scheduled to appear at is the Baylor game on Nov. 24, Jackson said.

“Obviously we don’t know the status of that appearance,” Jackson said. “If we find a find a suitable horse we believe can fill the role and be safe and everything, we might be able to go, but we’re not going to be able to go with Midnight Matador this year.”

Jackson has received calls from several people who said they believe they have a black horse that will do the job.

The Masked Rider Program Advisory Committee, which Jackson said he has served on for 15-plus years, will meet next week, Jackson said Tuesday.